Holy Nativity School

Holy Nativity School, a coeducational, Episcopal school nestled in the ‘Aina Haina Valley on the east side of Oahu, has been teaching students pre-K through 6th grade for over 60 years. In its decades of experience, the school has maintained its heartfelt mission, recognizing the need to meet children where they are, while equipping them with the skills and knowledge to be “principled citizens who recognize their role in a global community.”

This is no easy task. Preparing students for success in the 21st century requires more than your standard reading, writing, and arithmetic.

As the Head of School, this is something that Tim Spurrier knows well. It’s his job to make sure that Holy Nativity not only keeps its doors open, but that the students, teachers, staff and parents in their community are being supported from the inside-out. Well-being, not simply academic success, is what drives Tim’s work. He wants his students to not only succeed, but to thrive.

Minding Tradition

Supporting Tim’s understanding of his students’ well-being is the underlying tradition of the school. As Tim explains, “We are an Episcopal school, and we are called each day to be mindful.” Practicing mindfulness at Holy Nativity has come in the form of “mindful minutes” in both classrooms and the chapel, allowing students and staff the opportunity to “focus either through prayer or just sitting silently to relax their minds.” Moving from this tradition, Tim was looking for another way to give students and teachers a chance to decompress and build self-awareness, and as a former professional athlete, he knew that exercise could be a part of the solution.

There have been numerous studies that show the benefits of movement and yoga to enhance learning,” reflects Tim. “If students can take a break from the stress of learning for a few minutes they should be able to come back more relaxed and focused.

That’s where Yoga Ed. comes in.

“I liked that the program provided our teachers with a resource to practice and teach yoga,” Tim says. “Plus, I really liked that it is research-based and has no religious overtones.” As a secular, school-based program, Yoga Ed. could fit naturally into the existing values and culture of Holy Nativity, while also making it easy for teachers to use it in class.

And as a plus, many students and teachers were already familiar with Yoga Ed., as Yoga Ed. Trainer Harmony Turner had been teaching yoga as part of the school’s extended day classes with awesome results. As one staff member noted, Harmony was able to help the kids calm down after a busy school day, by centering them on their breathing and movement, and teachers began to see that yoga sessions could promote both productivity and happiness.

From the success of the after-school program, Holy Nativity expanded their offering to a summer session and Faculty Yoga classes. Now for this school year, it’s time to take the programming one step further: into the classrooms themselves. As an Assistant Teacher and Director of Health and Wellness at Holy Nativity, Harmony has provided professional development workshops that enable the teachers at Holy Nativity to incorporate an extra dose of mindfulness into the school day, all through chair yoga.

Yoga is now in every classroom,” explains Harmony, “with weekly faculty and after-school yoga, along with community yoga classes offered three times during the school year.

Building up Benefits

Even in the first months of implementation, teachers at Holy Nativity report tangible results. Alan Ching, a 4th grade teacher, says that he uses yoga as a way to help his students break up the monotony of the day with movement, or even as a way to calm down after recess. “It works well focusing the students and getting them back on task,” Alan says. “It gently gets their blood flowing.” Kimberly Hoi, who teaches 3rd graders, has seen similar results. “It has been very relaxing and useful as students transition to another subject or class,” notes Kimberly. An added bonus? It’s relaxing for her, as well. In reminding students to center themselves and listen to their inner voice, she is also “reminded to pause and repurpose myself in actions and in my teaching.”

Harmony too has observed this trend, noting that the “teachers see, experience, and value yoga in the school community, and it equips them to be reflective versus reactive” in how they address their students. “They understand the importance of pausing and taking a deep breath.”

More mindful teachers and students are exactly what Tim had in mind, and the effect has been felt across all grades involved. Even in first grade, teacher Jenna Visoria observes that her young students really “embrace the quiet time,” whenever she integrates yoga into their day. And for her, yoga is an incredible tool to help her meet developmental milestones. “First graders are constantly working on self-control with their minds and bodies,” Jenna explains. Through yoga, they’ve been able to build upon their bodily awareness and learn to better focus their minds, all while having fun and maximizing their limited class time.

Up in the 5th grade, Staci Overton sees that self-awareness has benefitted her students in a different way. As her students undergo a variety of sometimes uncomfortable physical changes with the onset of adolescence, doing yoga every day has allowed them to become familiar with their bodies in an environment that is safe, nonjudgmental, and comfortable. And even better, the students love it. Now that the class is familiar with the regular routine, Staci lets her students take turns leading the sessions, giving everyone the chance to slow down, reconnect, and engage in a meaningful way.

A Common Language

Aside from the obvious physical and mental benefits that have been experienced by students and teachers alike, Tim Spurrier anticipates an even bigger change in the culture of Holy Nativity. “I’m really big on common language,” Tim explains. “Often in schools, every classroom becomes it’s own universe. Teachers tend to teach to their strengths and are not always risk takers.” While this may not impede on student performance, Tim is all about taking school unity a step further.

When you have a program like Yoga Ed., each child is getting the benefits. The common language that they share with each other and their teachers will be school-wide.

— Tim Spurrier, Head of School

In other words, Yoga Ed. provides the opportunity for the entire community to participate in an activity together, “regardless if you have a 3 year old student or a 70 year old teacher.” The social support and cohesion that comes from this common language allows teachers and staff to better embody the mindful principles that they are imparting on students, and provides students with a consistent and empowering environment to indeed thrive. Learn how to get started with Yoga Ed. for your school today.

Written By

Megan Drissell Carroll, MPH, CHES, RYT is a public health professional based in Saint Louis, Missouri. She has a special interest in how yoga and mindfulness can support health, wellbeing, and longevity, and nerds out over all things anatomy, physiology, and gender studies.